The following are some of the sayings of Imam Husayn peace be upon him on occasions leading to the tragic event of Ashura – 10th of Muharram – 61 H, around 681 CE:
‘Death with dignity is better than life with humiliation.’
‘I do not see death except happiness and prosperity, and life with oppressors but anguish.’
‘I swear by God, I shall not surrender as a humiliated person, and shall not escape like slaves.’
‘I have not arisen for the purpose of exuberance, arrogance, corruption, or oppression, but I have done so in order to seek reform in the nation of my Grandfather [Muhammad peace be upon him]. I want to promote virtue and prohibit vice, and I want to go down the path and tradition of my Grandfather [Muhammad peace be upon him], and the path of my father [Ali ibn Abi Talib peace be upon him].’